Feds launch investigation on Newark Police Department

May 9, 2011

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the Newark, New Jersey Police Department.

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the Newark, New Jersey Police Department.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey says it documented 418 incidents of alleged patterns of abuse within the Newark Police Department over a two and a half year period. The ACLU says some of those incidents resulted in injury and death. That petition was filed with the Department of Justice last September.

Garry McCarthy is the police director in Newark, and he's set to be Chicago's next police superintendent.

"This is actually bigger than Director McCarthy. This was a problem that existed when he came here, but it's also problems that existed when he left. And it's not something he's able to wash his hands of," Shalom said.

A statement from Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel's office says McCarthy brought on a number of aggressive and successful reforms to the Newark Police Department. The statement also says McCarthy and the department will work with the feds to make improvements in handling complaints.